Russia discussed nuclear strike on Germany before invasion, Spiegel reports
The Kremlin discussed a nuclear strike on Germany before invading Ukraine (Photo:PeterDargatz/Pixabay)
Weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine, the Russian army discussed scenarios for a nuclear strike on Germany, German newspaper Der Spiegel reported on Oct. 28. According to the publication, Western intelligence services intercepted radio messages to that effect from the Russian Navy from a maneuver in the Baltic Sea at the end of 2021.
The intercepts allegedly show Moscow considering potential nuclear strikes on three targets in Germany: Berlin, the United States air base in Ramstein, and the Buchel air base, where the U.S. army stores nuclear weapons.
Nuclear-armed militaries often discuss and practice nuclear-involved warfare, including NATO powers, though there has not been combat use of nuclear weapons since World War 2.
On the other hand, experts believe that the Russians deliberately named the targets to intimidate the West because they knew they were being overheard.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held talks with the French, British and Turkish defense ministers on Oct. 23, expressing "concern" that Ukraine was allegedly preparing "provocations" with the use of a "dirty bomb". Later, Shoigu called the ministers of China and India to also “warn” them of this ”dirty bomb.”
The Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine have rejected Shoigu's false accusations. FM Dmytro Kuleba held talks with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi, and agreed to send experts to Ukrainian facilities where, according to Russian propaganda fakes, a "dirty bomb" is being developed – in order to disprove this Kremlin smear.
Ukraine's partners stressed that they do not believe these Russian fakes, but expressed concern that this could be Russia's preparation for a "false flag operation".
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